Kyle Hendricks Throws 81-Pitch Maddux Against Cardinals
He’s been compared to Greg Maddux since he came up with the Cubs, but now Kyle Hendricks can say he is Maddux. Or at least that he threw a Maddux, a term coined by baseball writer Jason Lukehart to describe a complete-game shutout on fewer than 100 pitches. Hendricks needed just 81 pitches, 63 of which were strikes (77.8%).
That’s the fewest pitches in a CGSO since Aaron Cook shut the Mariners out on the same number of tosses back on June 29, 2012. Hendricks scattered only four hits and walked none while striking out three as his pitches danced around in the cool Wrigley air. Just nine pitches per inning, 2.7 per batter faced. Come the heck on, man, that’s nuts.
Just look at the map of his pitches and then stick around for some GIFs…
Kyle Hendricks, 86mph Fastball (Called Strike) and 78mph Changeup (Swinging Strike), Overlay. pic.twitter.com/jDjy3onFTP
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 3, 2019
Dexter Fowler and Kyle Hendricks…after Hendricks' 81 pitch Masterpiece. 😀🖼️ pic.twitter.com/F6ncR3otd9
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 3, 2019
Simply incredible.